The Westbrook High School Interact Club sent seven students this past weekend to the New Generations Conference. Attendees were treated to a continental breakfast and a couple of ice breakers in the cafeteria where they met and learned about students from other schools.  The energy in the room was high!   Then off to the auditorium for a series of speakers which included a panel discussing Student Exchange, RYLA and Roteract, and a presentation by David Talbot of Crutches 4 Africa, among other speakers.  

 

L-R: Christine Johnson - W-G Rotary, Brianna Garcia,

Natalie Merrill, Letta Oeur - Interact President, 

Reily Schumacher, Courtney Arsenault, Danielle Breunig,

Reilley Joyce, Bruce Dyer - Interact Advisor

 

After a great lunch, keynote speaker Rotarian Deepa Willingham, Founder/Chair of PACE Universal, talked about poverty and illiteracy in the world, especially among girls in developing countries. It is estimated that 600-800 thousand people are trafficked across international borders each year. Most of these are women and girls, including girls as young as 5.  In the US, it is estimated that 14,500 -17500 people are trafficked annually, primarily women and children. Extreme poverty and lack of schooling are significant factors driving these numbers. With no education, the cycle of poverty continues from one generation to the next.

 

 

Promise of Assurance to Children Everywhere (PACE) was established to meet the educational needs of girls in impoverished areas of India and elsewhere. PACE started with 25 students at its pilot learning center in Piyali, India, and now has over 200 girls enrolled. There is currently a second school under construction in Mexico and another planned for Honduras. There is even discussion of establishing a program in Appalachia.  The school provides full education to girls of the community, but also offers programs to their mothers in finance and language skills. In Piyali, this has led to many small businesses that allow women to provide income to the household, raising the standard of living for the entire family.

 

To read more go to: paceuniveral.org or watch this YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/YwEhKu3T51Q 

 

       

Rev Bill Chadwick spoke about his church’s work in Cuatro Cayos, a small town in the jungles of Guatemala. He and fellow Rotarian Wayne Lopez recently led a group of 20 to work on several ongoing projects. These projects include building and equipping a school, establishing a bakery to be owned and run locally, building a health clinic, providing dental services, feeding local children, providing mosquito nets to fight Zika Virus, among other projects

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Bill showed how this work dovetails with the Rotary Foundation's motto of Doing Good in the World and to Rotary’s six areas of focus: Promoting Peace, Disease Prevention, Water & Sanitation, Education, Economic Development, and Child & Maternal care.  

 

Finally, he spoke about his vision for the future: equipping this new clinic with a portable dental chair and other associated equipment. We hope to submit this project for a District grant in 2016.

 

 

In researching the Westbrook Historical Society archives, these fellows were quickly found.  Four were both Westbrook Mayors and Rotary Presidents.  The fifth Rotarian, Mr Lawrensen (center) was a Westbrook Mayor, but never club president.  

 

If you know any other Westbrook-Gorham Rotarians who were Westbrook Mayors, please share this information via email to cejinmaine@gmail.com or at a meeting.  We are pretty sure that Warren, Hay, Jordan and Richardson are the only ones to claim both titles, but would not be surprised if there have been a few more Mayors in our midst!

 

 

 

3/31/2016 District Membership Workshop - Victoria Mansion 109 Danforth St, Portland - "Taking a Team Approach"- A Workshop on Membership Recruitment and Retention.  For Club Membership Chairs, Club Officers and Concerned Rotarians. Sign up at: District 7780 Membership Workshop sign up

 

4/2/2016 – District Assembly at University of Southern Maine. Please register on line at the District website: District Training Assembly   - 9 members are planning to attend. If you would like to add your name to that list, please register and let Christine know. Bill Gowen will pay any outstanding balance that day. 

 

4/14/2016 - Club Vision Workshop - 6-8PM - South Portland Housing Authority. This 8th in a series of workshops will focus on Membership Retention and Development. It will dovetail with the 3 workshops being held this month centered around membership, hosted by the District Membership Committee.  This even is $9 and includes light dinner.  Contact Tony Wagner right away if you would like to attend as he expects all slots will fill up: tony.wagner163@gmail.com 

 

6/10-6/12/2016 – District Conference at Tarry-A-While Resort, Bridgeton

 

6/28/2016 RYLA Graduation at Camp Hinds - More details to follow.  District Governor Changeover Ceremony to be part of this event.

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The speaker assignment list has been posted on our website. Look under Site Pages, Program Assignments. Please let Christine Johnson know as soon as you can once you have secured a speaker or if you need help securing a speaker.

 

Thanks for your assistance in providing a great mix of interesting programs for our meetings.

 

Here is the list of upcoming dates: